Start with the business you actually plan to run
Write down who will own the business, where you will operate, and how you expect to earn income. These details help you discuss the right structure with a qualified attorney or tax professional. A sole proprietorship, LLC, and corporation involve different decisions; “one-person company” describes the owner, rather than a separate California entity type.
The California Secretary of State provides a business-starting checklist. Use it as a starting resource, then check the requirements that apply to your location and activities.
Prepare the details before paying a provider
Make a short brief you can reuse when comparing providers. Include your proposed name, ownership details, preferred business structure, business and mailing addresses, and the questions you still need answered.
Keep your business address, mailing service, and agent for service of process as separate line items when requesting a quote. Ask the provider what each service covers, which address may be used for a particular filing, and what becomes public. If you need premises or an address provider, compare the contract and permitted uses before signing up.
Keep state formation and an EIN separate
Use California’s bizfile Online for the state’s entity filing services and records. Save the state-filed formation document and confirmation for your business records.
An Employer Identification Number is issued by the IRS, rather than the California Secretary of State. The IRS offers EIN applications directly at no charge; review its eligibility and application instructions. A provider may charge for assistance, so distinguish that service fee from the IRS application itself.
Check the local requirements, too
A state formation filing is one part of setting up a business. California’s checklist also directs owners to check the city, county, and other agencies for applicable permits, zoning, licensing, and taxes. Keep a list of the agencies you contacted and the next action each one requires.
Before you enroll with a formation provider, ask for a written scope: what it files, what you must supply, which government charges are separate, and who handles follow-up requests.
Make the handoff to ongoing operations
Create a folder for your formation documents, EIN confirmation, service agreements, and filing receipts. Assign someone to maintain a calendar of the dates confirmed for your entity. Formation is a starting point, rather than a substitute for ongoing recordkeeping and filing tasks.
Continue with our small-business compliance checklist, or compare OPCNESW membership plans for current benefits, availability, and service scope.
Questions business owners ask
Does OPCNESW replace the Secretary of State or IRS?
No. This guide helps you find resources and organize next steps. Government filings and EIN applications are handled through the relevant agency or a provider you choose.
Should I buy a company address before choosing a formation service?
Confirm the address requirements for your intended use and ask the filing or address provider what its service permits. Compare the address service separately from registered-agent and formation fees.